Undying Gratitude

Writers: Heather, Yvonne
Date Posted: 23rd February 2024

Characters: W'ser, H'run
Description: H'run's Calcifeth is 'Scored in Threadfall.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 9, day 11 of Turn 11

W'ser

H'run

Sweat beaded on the Weyrdragonhealer's brow as he adjusted the magnification goggles on his face. With steady hands he continued the intricately detailed work on the blue dragon's tattered wingsail. Wingsails were the most difficult and delicate part of a dragon to work with when injured.

"Forehead, please," he said to the apprentice assisting. Immediately a cloth was dabbed across his brow to make sure none of the sweat dropped into his eyes.

His shoulders ached from the tension of crouching over the injured dragon for the last two candlemarks, but he was nearly done.

"There," he finally exhaled, withdrawing his hands and slumping back into the stool just beneath him. "Finished."

He was bone weary as he set the instruments he'd been aside, ripped the goggles off, and went over to wash his hands.

"Can we let the dragonrider in now, Master W'ser?" the apprentice asked.

"Yes, let him in."

The door opened and H'run stumbled in, heading straight for Calcifeth. A sob ripped loose as he wrapped his arms around the dragon's blue head, and Calcifeth nuzzled his nose into H'run's arms as if he could hide there. They stood and spoke silently to each other for a long moment, before H'run took a deep breath and finally turned to acknowledge the Weyrdragonhealer. "Tell me." The Harper's voice shook.

W'ser's eyes were sympathetic as he dried his hands on a towel and set it aside. "It's not good, H'run. Wingsail injuries are the most difficult to repair and heal but..." he glanced at Calcifeth. "I've repaired what I could and with a lot of care and time, I think he should recover full use."

"What do you mean, 'a lot of time'?"

"At least a month. Having to tack a wing like that is going to require some healing time, and then once it's healed sufficiently, Calcifeth will need to do some practice flying to adjust to the new weight of his wing. There's going to be an overlapping growth as the wing heals but in a couple of turns it'll wear smooth and you'll barely notice." W'ser knew it wasn't what the bluerider wanted to hear. "So on the ground, no less than a month. After the month is up, we'll reassess."

The bluerider's eyes welled up with tears. "A month?!"

"I'm afraid so," W'ser said sympathetically. "Dragons can still fly with up to a third of their wing compromised, so Calcifeth can take himself to his weyr after a couple of days here in the infirmary. I want to give the stitches a little healing time before he goes back to your weyr. After that, he'll need to take it easy with his flying. Just necessities and never with you on his neckridge. No extra weight until the month is up."

A sob tore free and H'run pressed his hand against his mouth. He turned back to Calcifeth and wrapped his arms around the blue dragon's head. "I'm so sorry!"

The Weyrdragonhealer turned away for a moment, busying himself to give H'run a moment of privacy.

When the bluerider seemed a little more collected, W'ser asked, "So what happened up there?"

H'run sniffled and wiped his eyes, smearing crackdust across his cheeks in the process. "I don't know. I-- there was flame beside us, I was throwing Calcifeth firestone and--" Tears started streaming down his cheeks again as he grabbed W'ser's hands and pressed kisses to the Weyrdragonhealer's knuckles. "I thought we'd be grounded _forever_!"

W'ser blinked in surprise. He'd received thanks in a lot of ways over the turns but having his hands kissed was a new one. "There, there," the brownrider consoled as best he could. "If you'd like I can get the apprentices to set you up a cot so you can sleep by Calcifeth tonight."

"You would?" H'run dropped W'ser's hands only to fling himself into his arms. "I can't-- thank you!"

He stood there for a moment, accepting the hug stiffly, and awkwardly before raising his hands up to give H'run gentle pats on the back. "Of course. Don't mention it." W'ser cleared his throat, looking at another apprentice over H'run's shoulder. "Eldriel, go fetch a cot, please."

"No-- if it weren't for you-- oh by the Egg!" The bluerider clung to W'ser even harder. "He might never have flown again or-- or _died_!"

All of the other dragonhealers in the infirmary had stopped to stare at the scene between W'ser and H'run. W'ser shot them a look they all empathized with, and then they continued to shuffle about, tending to patients.

"Calcifeth is a very strong dragon, H'run. Really, he did all of the hard work." The dragonhealer said, trying to redirect the bluerider's attention.

"As much as I love him, he cannot stitch his own wings," H'run mumbled into W'ser's tunic. "His-- oh shards, his poor wing!"

“There, there,” W’ser said as he continued his awkward patting of H’run’s back.

The crying continued for a few more minutes until H'run finally, slowly pulled away. "What do I do now?"

"First? Go by the bathing pools and get cleaned up. Then, grab anything you might need from your weyr to stay here for the night." As soon as W'ser said the word 'anything' he regretted it, but it was too late to retract now.

It all felt overwhelming. Calcifeth's pain and fear mixed with his own and H'run felt wrung out like an over-used dishcloth. He nodded miserably. "Thank you."

"Is there someone you'd like me to have Branth reach out to so they can keep you company?" W'ser asked, knowing Calcifeth was exhausted from the injury and the tediously long surgery afterwards.

H'run's eyes promptly filled with tears again. "No. I will be fine, alone."

Branth huffed out a mental sigh. }:Look what you did, putting your talon into your mouth again.:{

“Okay, well, just grab an apprentice if you need anything. I’ll check back on you and Calcifeth later tonight.” W’ser told H’run. He wanted to grab a bath and some dinner himself.

The bluerider sighed, looking miserable and lost. "I'll go...but thank you, W'ser. Without you, Calcifeth would..." Another tear slipped down his cheek.

Afraid that H'run might latch onto him again, W'ser quickly made a step toward the exit. "But all is well and Calcifeth is fine," he said, reiterating the silver lining. "Check in on you tonight!" The Weyrdragonhealer called before making his escape.

}:I hurt,:{ Calcifeth's mindvoice was quiet and strained.

**I know.** H'run put his hands on either side of his dragon's head and rested his forehead against Calcifeth's blue hide. They were both alone, together. As always. **I'm here.**

Last updated on the February 23rd 2024

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Undying Gratitude